Modifications of the erythrocyte deformability alter the effect of temperature on the relative viscosity of human blood 1

Abstract

The relative viscosity of normal red cell suspensions is independent of temperature at high shear rates. The relative viscosity of suspensions with normovolemic sphered erythrocytes having a reduced deformability, however, is higher at 37°C than at 20°C. It is concluded that the changes of the lipoprotein configuration within the erythrocyte membrane which are proposed to be involved in the disc-sphere-transformation of the red cell, depend on temperature and are responsible for the increased relative viscosity at 37°C.